title: Bihemispheric anodal corticomotor stimulation using transcranial direct current stimulation improves bimanual typing task performance.
abstract: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is associated with improved unimanual skilled hand use. The authors assessed effects of bihemispheric anodal corticomotor tDCS (BAC-tDCS) on bimanual skilled hand use. Twenty-eight nondisabled subjects were randomized to either BAC-tDCS or sham-tDCS, 20 min daily for 5 consecutive days. Performance on a bimanual typing (BT) task and a short-term memory (STM) task was assessed daily and at 1-week follow-up. Mean change between Day 1 and Day 5 in BT score with BAC-tDCS (19.4 points; 95% CI [12.82, 25.99]) was significantly greater (p =.04) than change with sham-tDCS (12.5 points; 95% CI [7.6, 17.3]). Neither group retained improvements in BT score at follow-up. BAC-tDCS had no effect on STM. These results may have implications for interventions to improve hand function in persons with bilateral hand dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Miami, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gomes-Osman
authors.forename: Edelle C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Field-Fote
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*